Transparency advocates want White House beer recipe

By Byron Tau

08/21/12 11:26 AM EDT

A group of home-brewing enthusiasts and transparency advocates want the government to hand over the recipe for the home brewed beers created at the White House.

As reported by Government Executive, a Reddit user has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for the recipe, arguing that "disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations of activities of the government."

The FOIA request added: "If you could send me a copy autographed by the president, you'd be the coolest FOIA officer in the whole federal government."

Another group of internet users has created a 'We the People" petition, requesting the recipe. That petition needs more than 24,000 more signatures to generate a response.

News of the White House home brews leaked, so to speak, when it was served at two White House parties last year. More recently, Obama brought a number of White House ales on trail to hand out to voters as gifts.

The White House declined to release the recipe to POLITICO, but an official said: "Every petition that crosses the signature threshold will be directed to the appropriate staff and receive a response."